After storming the world for
nearly 40 years and taking their very special brand of heavy metal to
all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST - one of the most
influential heavy metal bands of all time, have announced this will be
their final world tour!!

However, the mighty PRIEST will
certainly be going out strong as they rock the planet starting in 2011
on the massive EPITAPH tour - hitting all the major cities throughout
the world they will be playing the songs that helped make the name JUDAS
PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal!

With all guns blazing and amps
cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all their fans one last
chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

JUDAS PRIEST will be starting
their world tour in Europe - we have just confirmed the following
festivals for 2011 -

Fans of Judas Priest have the
opportunity to view an exhibit featuring the band. 'Memories in Music
in the Midlands' opened in Birmingham, U.K. and will run daily at the St
Pauls Gallery, 94 Northwood Street until October 17th. The exhibit
features items from the personal collections of some of the areas
amazing musical talent, and an award display of CDs is on view from
Judas Priest. Many other musicians are represented including Steve
Winwood and Pink Floyd's drummer Nick Mason. Exhibit entry is £3.50.
There are music related items on sale and contests to enter, all
proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support at home, and Task Brasil's
'Casa Jimmy' abroad, a home for the abandoned street children of Rio.
For all the details go to
www.memoriesinmusic.com

This Sunday, August 8th at 9am
EST: Only on A&E's Private Sessions: Metal God's Judas Priest take over
your Sunday morning!

Lead singer Rob Halford joins host Lynn Hoffman to share stories from
the road, explain the concept of metal therapy, and talk about the
release of Judas Priest's British Steel 30th Anniversary Editions! One
of the greatest metal albums of all time just got bigger!

People throw out the term "classic" so often
that it tends to lose its true meaning, but when talking aboutJUDAS
PRIEST's 1980 grand slam"British Steel"the
meaning of the word cannot be overstated. It is a classic much likeAC/DC's"Back
in Black",IRON
MAIDEN's"The
Number of the Beast",BLACK
SABBATH's"Paranoid",
andMETALLICA's"Master
of Puppets". It is an album that has stood the test of
time, sounding as relevant now as it did 30 years ago, based on the
establishment of a genre-defining style and a collection of nine
flawless, memorable, and immediately recognizable songs. The 30th
anniversary edition is now presented to you in suitably remastered
form with two bonus tracks, revised artwork (the original cover
still stuns the eyes), and an accompanying DVD featuring a full
performance and a very informative interview with vocalistRob
Halford, bassistIan
Hill, and guitaristsK.K.
DowningandGlenn
Tipton.

As for"British
Steel"proper,
the only problem is describing its greatness is one of reigning in
the unbridled enthusiasm and staving off the inclination to ramble
endlessly. I'll try to be succinct. Though 1979's"Hell
Bent for Leather"is
a classic in its own right, something clicked during the"British
Steel"sessions
that resulted in the band sharpening its approach to songwriting by
compacting its legendary armored attack into nine surgically precise
compositions that pound for pound offered just as much, if not more,
metal, while putting greater emphasis on catchiness. Both sound and
delivery are distinguishing factors, as the recordings feature an
unparalleled instrument clarity, as well as a lockstep, militaristic
approach previously unheard of and in many respects still unmatched
by albums released since.

Sandwiched between too all-out head bangers in"Rapid
Fire"and"Steeler"were
seven truly diverse tracks, each one a different kind of highlight
and inclusive of some of the greatest riffs and melodies in the
history of heavy metal."Breaking
the Law"and"Living
After Midnight"are the breakout hits on a breakout album,
each quintessential anthems with rousing, made-for-FM-radio
choruses."Metal
Gods"is the
metal march to end all metal marches and"Grinder"is
just downright nasty with that clipped bluntness of the main riff
and a chorus that is one of the most infamous ever written (yet it
is a metaphor for breaking out of life's spirit-destroying routines,
asHalfordnotes
during the interview portion of the DVD)."The
Rage"offers yet
another stark compositional contrast with its reggae-gone-metal
verse (stillIan
Hill's most conspicuous moment) and a iron and steel
avalanche of a chorus that is overwhelmingly heavy even by today's
standards."You
Don't Have to Be Old to be Wise"is
in many respects the album's most dynamic cut with a refrain
tailor-made for the sing-along, while"United"is
one of the most, well, unifying heavy metal shout-outs of all time;
a simple song with a simple message, yet a message that defines the
strength and life-long bonds of the heavy metal community, alternate
interpretations notwithstanding.

Bonus-wise, the CD portion of the package rounds out with a live
version of"Grinder"and
a touching, if melodramatic, cut recorded in 1985 called"Red,
White, and Blue". Additionally,Dave
Shack's liner notes poignantly capture the feelings evoked
by"British
Steel"both when
it was first released and 30 years later.

That brings us to a spectacular bonus DVD, the centerpiece of which
is an excellent 16-song live performance from last year's 30th
Anniversary Tour, beginning with"British
Steel"played in
its entirety. A special selection of tunes like"The
Ripper","Diamonds
& Rust","Victim
of Changes","Freewheel Burning", and"You've
got another Thing Comin'"follow,
sitting alongside"Hell
Patrol"and"Prophecy"(from"Nostradamus").
Great audio, great video; case closed. The 30-minute "The Making of
British Steel Interview" is engrossing, as each member discusses
each of the nine songs, a well as the details of the recording
sessions at Tittenhurst Park. The stories behind the creation of the
sound effects used for"Metal
Gods"are worth
the price of admission alone.

What more can be said about"British
Steel"? Lots more, but it's time to wrap things up. In a
nutshell,"British
Steel"is an
album beloved by generations of fans and will continue to be loved
by future generations. The 30th Anniversary Edition is an
outstanding tribute to it. While an 11 would be a more accurate
rating, we'll have to settle on a 10.

On Tuesday 13th July 2010, our
cover artist for the past twenty years Mark Wilkinson will be sharing a
platform with the designer Andie Airfix talking about the 'Art of Heavy
Rock' at the British Music Experience - which is part of the O2 Arena's
exhibition space.

We are filled with great sadness
at the terrible news about our friend Ronnie James Dio - our condolences
and love go to Wendy and Ronnie's family - Ronnie was a wonderful man
and will be sorely missed.

Check out British Steel
30th anniversary trailer featuring clips from the stunning British Steel
Live show plus interview with the band, taken from the bonus DVD -
click herenow.

Why you need to own this record:

"To me Judas Priest were the
first heavy metal band…the darkness, aggression and energy of Priest is
undeniable and their twin guitar sound is the template for everything
that came after them." Scott Ian, Anthrax

"Without Priest we wouldn’t exist." Matt Heafy, Trivium

"A world-beater at the time, British Steel’s impact still echoes
today. It’s an album that played a huge part in defining the geography
of the metal landscape." KKKK Kerrang!

"A bumper triple-disc package that once again rams home the
brilliance of Priest’s breakthrough release…the ultimate version of a
timeless classic." Metal Hammer

Available in 2 editions:Strictly Limited Deluxe edition (pictured): - Original
album + Live album + Live DVD & exclusive 30 minute ‘Making of British
Steel’ interview.

CD/DVD edition: Original album + Live DVD & exclusive
30 minute ‘Making of British Steel’ interview.

For full tracklistings and to order your copy if you live in the UK
click on one of these links for the limited edition version:
Amazon |
HMV|
Playor on one of these for the
standard version
Amazon |
HMV |
Play.

If you are a resident of the US, the deluxe
3 disc set is available in a limited quantity exclusively at
JudasPriest.com. Click
hereto be one of the few
lucky fans to own this incredible package. US residents can also order
the standard version by
clicking here.

We've made it easier than
ever to listen to previous ROCKLINE shows! You can choose from any
of our four most recent shows.
Just press the green PLAY button to get started; or, if you need to
skip ahead, no problem - choose from any of the 5 on-air segments to
catch what you missed!

Last night some lucky contest
winners, courtest of Clear Channel's Q104, were able to attend a
screening of the Concert DVD from the 30th Anniversary Edition of
British Steel as well as a Q&A between Rob Halford and Jonathan Clarke.
Those who weren't lucky enough to be there in person, don't feel left
out, you can view the photos and video interview online.

VEVO/YouTube is proud to be able
to show you the video premiere of "You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise
(Live)", another video from the 30th Anniversary Edition of British
Steel, which hits stores today!

Judas Priest!

To speak with Rob Halford
you must call Monday night between 8:30pm PT to 10:00pm
PT, or 11:00pm to 1:00am ET. You can listen to the broadcast on both
nights by following the simple "Listen Live" instructions on this
website. The show will be streamed here beginnign on Tuesday, May 11th.
PLEASE CALL ON MONDAY ONLY!!!

It’s hard to
believe it’s been thirty years since the breakthrough, genre defining
album, “British Steel” was released by Judas Priest. The first thing
that grabbed you was the cover, the iconic chills-up-the-spine image of
a hand gripping a double edged razor blade so mightily that it was well
into the flesh. It’s an unforgettable entre to one of the greatest
albums ever created, one which not only provided Priest previously
undreamt of recognition and reward, but also a release that drew a line
of demarcation between traditional blues based Rock and Roll and Metal.
It also meant that Priest could become a mainstream band and still
retain their credibility and perform music their way.

One of the first things which grabs you with
the brand new “British Steel: Thirtieth Anniversary Edition” is that the
hand, which conveyed a bamboo-shoots-under-the- fingernails creepiness
is gone, replaced by the inevitable blood which was bound to ensue after
such hand was removed from the shimmering steel blade which had seeped
into the consciousness of any self respecting rocker. Two paragraphs in
and we haven’t gotten past the cover.

Well presented with extras worth having, such
as two previously unreleased songs from the era and a DVD of their
August 2009 concert at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL, the 30th
anniversary release is must have. The re-mastered version (done in 2001)
brings out the dynamics of the music without compromising the original
recordings. 5.1 surround sound for the DVD further enhances the feeling
of having actually attended the show. Good thing too because this is how
you’re going to see Judas Priest in concert in 2010. They’re taking a
year off from touring, having earned the right to do whatever they want
at this point; they are the Metal Gods after all.

The concert on DVD captures the band performing
their gold standard for albums, “British Steel” live in its entirety
and proper sequence serving as a reminder that this was one of the great
rock albums ever created and recorded, far beyond just the hits on the
radio, “Livin’ After Midnight” and “Breaking The Law”. In fact, it is
the non-radio songs which serve as the spine and framework for this
important statement from the Birmingham band. “British Steel” has
longtime concert favorites like “Metal Gods”, groundbreaking guitar work
on “The Rage” and “Steeler” and the anthemic “United”. Performed from
cut one straight through to the end serves as an explosive display of a
band that hit it out of the park in 1980. Our guest for this show, Rob
Halford, proclaimed during last year’s tour that performing the album in
its entirety was a dream and for fans, because there isn’t a bad song on
the album, a criterion for all proclaimed classic albums, it was
nirvana.JudasPriest.comandMySpaceare two of the band’s websites.

The Metal God himself, Rob Halford,
will join us to take calls and answer your questions about this
memorable release and all things Priest On Monday May 10 and rebroadcast
on Wednesday May 12, only on the nextROCKLINE!

Tune in for a weekend of
fantastic Judas Priest interviews centering on the 30th Anniversary
reissue of British Steel. PLANET ROCK RADIO will be
celebrating all things Priest this Saturday (8th May at 6pm
/repeated again on Thursday 13th May at 11pm) - hear Rob Birnie
chat to Rob and Glenn and play some classic Priest. Planet Rock is
available on DAB digital radio in the UK , Sky 0110, Virgin Media 924,
Freesat 730 and Online Worldwide atwww.planetrock.com

That not enough Priest for you...well, tune
in on Monday night to the RADIO 1 ROCK SHOW with
Daniel P Carter to hear Rob and Glenn talk about
British Steel in all it's glory and remember, you can listen live online
and listen back in the week following the show;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wq4s

And for a truly brilliant track-by-track
run down watch SCUZZ TV (Sky Channel 374) on Thursday 27th May
at 11pm for an interview with Rob, Glenn, K.K and Ian about the
recording, the inspiration and the tales behind the legendary British
Steel!

4th May 2010

Judas
Priest interview links

Check out this great clip from Monday
night's Headbanger's Ball with Full Metal Jackie and Judas Priest's very
own Rob Halford.

Make sure to tune into "Off The Record"
with Joe Benson on May 8th for a special double header featuring the
music of Judas Priest and Joe's brand new conversation with singer Rob
Halford!http://www.unclejoebenson.com/xotr.html

Judas Priest are taking a break
from touring this year - they need time to recharge their batteries
having just recently finished a two year World Tour in Japan at the end
of 2009!

They will of course be promoting the release of 'BRITISH STEEL - 30TH
ANNIVERSARY' which is due out in May 2010.

Watch out for the PRIEST MACHINE which will be rolling out again touring
the world in 2011 & 2012! The band will be back at a venue near you
pounding out their special brand of classic metal as ferociously as
ever!

28th April 2010

British
Steel 30th Anniversary Editions

10.05.2010

"One of the most important,
influential and imitated bands ever" Kerrang!

"ultimate version of a timeless classic" Metal
Hammer

"Without Priest there simply wouldn't be heavy metal. From
the dueling leads of Tipton and Downing to Halford's inhuman
vocal range they were not only influential, but unstoppable…the
boys from Birmingham will always own heavy metal."
Ryan Waste (Municipal Waste)

Judas Priest is one of the true classic heavy metal bands. Known
worldwide for their spectacular stage shows, they have been
making seminal metal for over 30 years, influenced generations
and sold in excess of 30 million albums.

It was 'British Steel' that took Judas Priest
to the masses with huge anthems like 'Breaking The Law
and 'Living After Midnight'. Now Sony Music is
celebrating 30 years of one of the greatest metal albums of all
time with stunning new anniversary editions, released 10th May.

In 2009 Judas Priest performed ‘British Steel’
in its entirety for the first time ever as part of their 30th
Anniversary US tour. This ultimate live experience was captured
in front of a vibrant American audience on 17th August at The
Seminole Hard Rock Arena, Hollywood, Florida and in full 5:1
surround and stereo sound, courtesy of original ‘British
Steel’ producer, Tom Allom. This show is included on
DVD in both editions and also features other live tracks from
their impressive catalogue plus a 30 minute ‘Making Of
British Steel’ interview with the band.

Available in 2 editions:Strictly Limited Deluxe edition (pictured): -
Original album + Live album + Live DVD & exclusive 30 minute
‘Making of British Steel’ interview.

CD/DVD edition: Original album + Live DVD &
exclusive 30 minute ‘Making of British Steel’ interview.

For full
tracklistings and to pre-order your copy if you live in the UK
click on one of these links for the limited edition version:
Amazon|
HMV|
Playor on one of these for the
standard version
Amazon |
HMV |
Play.

If you are a resident of the US, the
deluxe 3 disc set is available in a limited quantity exclusively
at
JudasPriest.com. Click
hereto be one of the few
lucky fans to own this incredible package. US residents can also
order the standard version by
clicking here.

ROB HALFORD will be the featured
guest on the nationally syndicated US radio show Rockline with host Bob
Coburn on Monday May 10, 2010 at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET.
Fans are encouraged to speak with the band by calling 1-800-344-ROCK
(7625).
For a station near you and for information regarding how to log onto the
Internet for the broadcast go to
www.RocklineRadio.com This broadcast will be available for two
weeks on the Rockline website beginning the evening of the day following
the show.

27th April 2010

Glenn
Tipton and KK Downing talk British Steel on MusicRadar.com

We had no idea we were
making anything special," says Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton of
the 1980 album British Steel, now celebrating its 30th anniversary and
heralded by millions of fans as a defining moment, not only for the band
but for heavy metal as a genre.

"After we finished it, we
listened back and we knew we liked it, but we couldn't have anticipated
the effect it would have on our careers. Its success shocked us all."

Co-guitarist KK Downing recalls
that “the songs felt a bit tighter than anything we had done prior. But
we didn’t sit down and say, 'Right, this is what we need to get on the
radio.' As the saying goes, we were flying by the seat of our pants.”

Rob Halford will guest on the US
Full Metal Jackie's syndicated metal radio show this weekend (4/23-4/25)
to talk about celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Judas Priest's BRITISH
STEELand the special new edition of the album!

BRITISH STEEL: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION CD + DVD package:
• CD features 2001 remaster of original 9-song album with two bonus
tracks
• DVD features live 16-song set from the 2009 U.S tour (the album
sequence
plus seven more tunes) plus new “Making of British Steel” interview
• Available at both physical and digital retail outlets starting May
11, 2010

BRITISH STEEL: 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION 2CD + DVD package:
• CD1 features 2001 remaster of original 9-song album with two bonus
tracks
• CD2 is the DVD’s live audio counterpart, featuring similar tracklist
to the DVD
• DVD features live 16-song set from the 2009 U.S tour (the album
sequence
plus seven more tunes) plus new “Making of British Steel” interview
• Available EXCLUSIVELY throughwww.judaspriest.com

In the summer and fall of 2009, while on tour
throughout North America and Japan, Judas Priest celebrated the 30th
anniversary of British Steel at each of their concert stops. Each night
featured a complete performance of their breakthrough album – source of
“Breaking The Law,” “Living After Midnight,” “Metal Gods,” “Grinder,”
and more. Released in April 1980, British Steel became Priest’s first
RIAA platinum Top 40 album in the U.S., their first Top 10 studio album
in the UK.

Now British Steel’s 30th anniversary moment officially arrives,
commemorating one of the most influential albums in heavy metal, a
record that fellow musicians and disciples credit for unleashing metal
from its blues origins. Columbia/Legacy will issue two separate packages
on May 11, 2010: BRITISH STEEL: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION will be
available through standard retail and digital outlets, while the BRITISH
STEEL: 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION box set will only be available
throughwww.judaspriest.com
BRITISH STEEL: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION features the 2001 remaster of
the original 36-minute, nine-song album (plus two bonus tracks). Also
included is a DVD which combines a live 16-song concert filmed in August
2009 at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida (the album
sequence plus seven more cuts), with a 30-minute “Making of British
Steel” interview that includes all four original band members.

BRITISH STEEL: 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION will be released
exclusively through the D2C (“direct-to-consumer”) weblink,www.judaspriest.com.
This is a three-disc package containing the same two discs – the album
with bonus tracks and DVD – plus the DVD’s live audio on CD. (Due to
timing constraints, there are six additional live tracks on the CD
rather than seven as on the DVD.)

There is no overstating Judas Priest’s position at the very top of heavy
metal’s Mount Olympus, and the critical importance of their deep album
catalog on Columbia Records in the U.S., from 1977’s Sin After Sin to
1990’s Painkiller. In 2004, Halford reunited with Judas Priest and the
band returned to Sony Music Entertainment. The appropriately
leather-bound and metal-spiked five-disc retrospective boxed set
Metalogy was followed in 2005 by Angel of Retribution (#13 on the
Billboard 200 albums chart) and in 2008 by Nostradamus (#11).

In 2009, A Touch of Evil: Live recapped Judas Priest’s world tours of
the previous four years. One of its tracks, “Dissident Aggressor”
earned Judas Priest their first Grammy Award this year, for Best Metal
Performance.

Indeed, Judas Priest is celebrated as progenitors of metal’s defining
sound. The upgraded version of Behind The Music – Judas Priest
(Re-Mastered) continues in circulation on VH1, and the band’s influence
spreads far beyond the 30 million albums, singles and videos they have
sold worldwide in their career.

British Steel

The long-term association (eight consecutive live and studio albums)
between Judas Priest and producer Tom Allom includes this classic, their
second LP together. It was recorded in four weeks at Tittenhurst Park,
previously owned by John Lennon, and the home of Ringo Starr at the
time. Radio airplay on AOR (album-oriented rock) stations for “Living
After Midnight” and “Breaking the Law” (with its early promo video clip
by Julien Temple) propelled the LP to #34 in Billboard and an 18-week
stay on the chart.

When the Judas Priest album catalog on Columbia was restored for the
first time starting in 2001, the band members offered their own
recollections (in lieu of a liner notes essay) on each individual CD.
They recalled the clanging sounds of “trays of cutlery” and “billiard
cues” heard in “Metal Gods,” which became a concert favorite along with
“The Rage.” Of the bonus tracks, “Grinder” is a live version recorded
in 1984; and “Red, White & Blue,” written as a sing-along for the Turbo
album sessions in 1985, never quite made the cut. “A little tongue in
cheek,” the 2001 notes declared, “it is also very patriotic and may
bring a tear to your eye!”

When British Steel was issued in 1980, a Columbia Records promotion
involved a giveaway contest for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle (signed by
the band members) that Rob had taken to riding onstage at shows each
night. Three decades later, the 2009 tour resurrected the contest with
another ‘autographed’ Harley.

The British Steel 2009 U.S Live Tour

As planned, Judas Priest hit the stage running every night of their
summer tour, crashing into “Rapid Fire,” the opening track of British
Steel, and reclaiming the other eight songs on the record in grand
style. Of course, the concerts did not end there. The band tore
through another program-length of songs from the four corners of their
history, starting with “The Ripper,” from their first Columbia LP,
1977’s Sin After Sin.

“Prophecy” dated from their most recent studio album of 2008,
Nostradamus; “Hell Patrol” was from the Columbia album of 1990,
Painkiller; “Victim Of Changes” is one of the staples from their 1976
album Sad Wings of Destiny; “Freewheel Burning” was one of the stellar
tracks (along with “Some Heads Are Gonna Roll”) that sent their 1984
album Defenders of the Faith to RIAA platinum; “Diamonds & Rust” is
their jaw-dropping treatment of a Joan Baez song from Sin After Sin; and
the show closed with “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” Judas Priest’s
singular appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, from 1982’s Screaming for
Vengeance.

Tom Allom and Judas Priest were reunited again (having worked together
not so long ago on the audio for the DVD ‘Rising In The East’) for the
live recordings that comprised 2009’s A Touch of Evil. Allom is
responsible for the stereo and 5.1 SurroundSound mixes of the live
recording from the Seminole Hard Rock Arena concert that appears in
these new editions of British Steel. The DVD will also include the
bonus feature, “The Making Of British Steel,” a 30-minute interview
featuring the four original band members.

Judas Priest is featured in a
new book, Full Metal Jackie Certified: The 50 Most Influential Heavy
Metal Songs of the '80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics.
In a new interview conducted exclusively for the book, Rob Halford
details the creative process that resulted in "Breaking the Law",
"Electric Eye," and "Eat Me Alive," in full chapters about each song
that also examine their social and cultural signficance, both then and
today.

Full Metal Jackie Certified: The 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal
Songs of the '80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics is
in-stock or available for order at major book retailers, and also online
at
Amazon,
Borders,
Delmar Cengage Learningand other
online retailers.

In his acceptance speech, Rob Halford said, "The fifth time is the
charm." He mentioned that Priest have been making metal for 35 years and
that they still love what they do. He also thanked Bill Curbishley and
Jayne Andrews (management), the label, all the radio stations and press
that have supported the band, and he dedicated the award to all heavy
metal fans. [You can watch his acceptance speech in full by clicking
on his photo above.]

(Scott Travis and Rob Halford on
the red carpet at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards).